Boston dominates second half to snap Thunder’s 12-game win streak
For about 12 minutes Wednesday night, it looked like this might go sideways.
Then the Boston Celtics (48-24) reminded everyone exactly who they are.
After a sluggish, out-of-sync first quarter that saw the Boston Celtics fall behind by 13, Boston flipped the game - and eventually overwhelmed the Oklahoma City Thunder (57-16) in a 119-109 win at TD Garden that felt every bit like a June preview.
It wasn’t just a win. It was a response.
And it might’ve been the clearest reminder yet that when this group locks in, there aren’t many teams, even the best ones, that can hang for 48 minutes.
Here are the biggest takeaways from a statement night in Boston:
1. Jaylen Brown Took Over:
If there was a defining stretch in this game, it belonged to Jaylen Brown.
After starting 0 for 5 in the first quarter, Brown didn’t just recover. He took control.
He scored 31 points, with 14 coming in a dominant third quarter that flipped the game for good.
He lived at the line (12 of 14), attacked mismatches, and dictated tempo in a way that’s become increasingly familiar this season.
We’ve said it before, but nights like this keep reinforcing it:
That’s an MVP-caliber performance.
Mar 25, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) celebrates during the fourth quarter of their win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden. (Winslow Townson/Imagn Images)2. Jayson Tatum Set Tone:
While Brown closed it, Jayson Tatum started it.
Boston’s offense was stuck early, but Tatum’s shot-making in the second quarter stabilized everything.
He finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists - and, more importantly, looked fully comfortable playing within the flow.
His minutes (35) continue to climb, and so does his rhythm.
That matters more than anything else right now.
3. Second Half Celtics:
This is where the game truly shifted.
Boston dropped 39 points in the third quarter and outscored Oklahoma City by a wide margin over the final 24 minutes.
The ball movement sharpened, the spacing returned, and the shot-making followed.
They finished 18 of 41 from three and scored 99 points over the final three quarters.
When the offense looks like that, it’s almost impossible to defend.
4. Margins Told The Story:
Beyond the stars, Boston won this game the way contenders do:
In the details.
They dominated the glass (56-40) and completely controlled second-chance opportunities, holding a staggering 19-2 edge in second-chance points.
Against a team as disciplined as Oklahoma City, that’s the difference between competing and winning.
5. Win In Context:
This wasn’t just another March game.
The Thunder came in with the league’s best record and a 12-game win streak.
They left with a reminder.
“I really wanted that win,” Brown told the media after the game.
And it showed.
For a team chasing postseason positioning, and still measuring itself against the league’s elite, this checked a lot of boxes.
More than anything, it felt like confirmation:
When Boston is right, it can beat anyone.
I think we already knew that, though.
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.